The Search for the Scientists (part 2)

Posted on Thu Sep 26th, 2019 @ 5:49am by Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn & Lieutenant Trei Jansum & Lieutenant JG Paris Deville & Lieutenant JG Tiskatee Troilon
Edited on on Thu Sep 26th, 2019 @ 6:00am

1,116 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

She wasn't going in full-speed. "I don't want to rest any more," she said. "I want to have a look at the cave opening." She was outwardly calm, but still angry and she didn't appreciate his humor right now. Later, probably, but not now. "Don't patronize me. Yes, I don't doubt you're sincere, but you're not me. If you want to rest, rest with the others. I won't be far away."

[NEW]

"I'm not patronizing you because I know you are under a lot of pressure." Paris replied taking his hand away from her, hurt by the accusation. "Amber, not only do you have a responsibility to the mission, you also have it to these people. People who are depending on you to make decisions if things suddenly get crazy. Some of them may not be ready for that just yet. Our Chief of Security is too busy seeking your approval and I know you can sense that. I can see it. Hear it in his tone. Observe it in his gestures." He paused slightly, moving slightly closer to her, as he continued to whisper. "We both know that going in there, even to investigate, is not a smart thing to do solo. We don't know who, or what, took the scientists. If they were even taken at all, so correct me if I am wrong, but sticking together is safer and smarter then going off to do something on your own. Its not only smart but protocol in situations like this." He let out a deep sigh and smiled again, concluding. "At the end of the day, it is still your call, and we will all follow your led. Personally, I am just cautious of you, but I also want to make sure there are no mistakes and everyone makes it back healthy and safe. I don't need to tell you why, because you can feel it, and why I feel this way. Especially, about you."

"Paris, I'm not under pressure. I'm checking out the entrance while the others rest. I'm not going exploring on my own. Trust me that I know what I'm doing." At the same time, Amber couldn't argue with him about Trei. But she also didn't want him using her feelings for him to convince her she was being foolish.

Trei was in the middle of taking a long drink of water from his backpack when he heard the helmsman's remark. He was really starting to dislike the man. He obeyed orders so he was brown-nosing? The arrogance coming off the man didn't exactly match the amount coming out of his mouth, but there was still a good amount there.

He lowered the pack of water and placed it back in his pack. "Ma'am, maybe you should take a minute to calm down. You are giving off waves of emotions right now. You can't be thinking rationally."

Trei's comment set her off again. Just because she didn't agree with Paris didn't mean she was being irrational. "Since when was doing recon irrational? I think you should mind your own business, lieutenant."

She didn't want to deal with Trei right now. Rather than let anyone else tell her what she should or should not do, Amber left. It wasn't like she was going that far away, either. She was within sight of the group, if they bothered to look.

She went a foot inside the cave, dropped her pack,put on her headlamp, and began to explore. She kept herself to within fifteen feet of the opening. She had no intention of wandering off alone. She looked at rock formations, water deposits, signs of animal or insect habitation, and tunnels. There were two that led deeper. One of the two looked like the one the scientists used.

"I guess one good night isn't enough to build trust." Paris replied before turning around. "I'll be in the shuttle." He walked away and proceeded back on the path they came from toward the shuttle.

Amber was too far away to hear him, but Patti did. She sighed and found a semi-flat rock to sit down and wait.

Troilon moved to the edge of the cave with her hand on her phaser, using a wrist mounted flashlight on her right hand that was not hindered by the phaser's profile in the light.

"I think the Doc is a bit itchy about going in yet ma'am. She is just outside taking some readings; I think she is waiting for you to give an 'All clear?" "Troilon mentioned. "No humanoid signs in the general area outside."

"If she's itchy, she can stay with Patti," Amber said. "So far there's really nothing to report. An old snakeskin, some spiderwebs. I found some footprints in the dirt, indicating where the scientists went. If the others are ready, we can see what's down there." She wished Paris would join them, but now that her temper had cooled, she didn't feel him outside with the others.

Trei was getting a little tired of being treated like he was an idiot. He knew she was not acting right. Paris, much as Trei hated to admit it, was right: Amber wasn't acting her best. But, she was the boss. So, he put his wrist light on his right wrist, the hand that was holding his phaser. All he had to do was point his phaser at someone and they would be lit, in more ways than one. He followed Amber into the caves, senses on high alert. He didn't just use his eyes and ears. He used his sense of smell and his sense of touch to feel the wind. He also used that undefined 'sixth sense' that some people have. The indescribable sense that someone or something was there with them or something was about to happen.

[Outside]

After a bit of a walk, mainly to clear his head, Paris made it to the shuttle. It's where he belonged anyway. He wasn't a scientist. He was a pilot and, despite his feelings, he was to remain at his job and not try to be anything more. "Computer, open shuttle door, please."

The door to the shuttle opened, allowing him to walk in, and take a seat in the main pilots chair. Once he was comfortable, he leaned back slightly and let out a deep sigh, allowing the music in his head to play uninterrupted. However, something was still eating away at him. His concern for the others. His concern for Amber.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Amber Quinn
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Paris Deville
Chief Flight Control Officer

Lieutenant Trei Jansum
Chief Security Officer

Lieutenant JG Tiskatee Troilon
Security Officer

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